Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-01-19

u
the superintendent regarding the room required
animation. bat l presume forty that Or City
",nou. patients sss ..1 %ss cs I'd
there viii be nssd OF snisrains, both s
sns to the estimates q ss
IN charge, the territory will have coo patients by
the end Of 1883 Bnt my experience 10 that these
e he B:tot. sss
patients. to be cared for from -south Dakota
ws 1ns sa
more room will Undoubtedly be required Just
what additional improvements will be necessary
Il A. 4 matter for study and Investigation.
an expenditure Of several thousand dollars In ex-
ccss Of their appropriation this being for fuel.
lights and necessary furniture to accommc-
canss Tor admission. under the cir cp.
stances this seems tustifable. though e1-
81 ss his Ss 10 =
amounts Of the bills contracted, with the reasons
sy sso ask that Ct the
selves what has been done and what it IL pro-
Tbs trustee: Of the Yankton hospital have
usnls and buildings in what teems 10 nis very
economical
satutions seem to be well conducted; indeed 1t
would be difficult to find hospital of similar
character in the country which 70 superior to
emit reason for com plant is the amount expended
for maintenance. which seems too large.
INSPECTION OF INSANE hosPIrALs.
There is no provision under the. Law for the
official inspection OF our hospitals for the in
sane. There ought to be. The people Of the ter
ritory, many OF whom have friends and relatives
In the s,ylums. and all of whom are interested in
the humane features of this work, have right to
know how patients are treated, and how these
l confess hat with all my facilities for knowing
the inside workings of these institutions, am
UNCERTAIN as to the treatment OF unfortunates. /
believe they are treated humaney, believe the
officers in charge are kind. worthy and compe-
tent, but have no means Of knowing this to be
true, for even had the governor the authority TO
has not, the pressure # other Official duties would
make 1t difficult to give that attention to the
subject which the matter. demands. The
practically alone in their affection. The kind
hand of tle friend relative il necessarily with
drawn. Their lives are committed to the care OF
strangers accustomed to sights OF distress, and
who. however kind they may be. cannot feel that
personal interest which is such solace in times
OF trial and without which care is but perfume
tory. and sympathy mechanical. We cannot pro-
vide our unfortunates with that tender nursin q
and attention which is the offspring Of affection
alone but We can see to it that kind treatment ie
in charge of these important trusts are not only
qualified by education, but by temper, disposi-
ton ana patience. for the responsible duty re-
G ss to i sn s
clothed; that they have clearly apartments,
wholesome food and exercise and are free from
unnecessary restraints and especially from cruel
punishments We can see that tho institutions
are conducted with honesty. fidelity and
economy.
son. whose labor should also include prison Wis
itation and the examination Of applications for
pardon he would supply for the time being the
place OF q board of charities and corrections,
which must in time be created for the territory.
There are sighty-six prisoners in the ter ritor-
ial penitentltry at Sioux Falls. By placing two
in cell, this prison will accommodate IA m ales
and ten females, 30 that il would not seem necss-
eary to provide further room at present. unless
IL is desired that prisoners should be entirely
separated. A very clear and concise report is
furnished by the directors, which, together with
estimates for improvements and maintenance, /
The Bismarck penitentisry contains 6fty-two
prisoners. all but one Of whom have been sem
fenced from north Dakota in the past twelve
months. The present wing contains room for
l44 prisoners, By placing two in cell, or seven
ty.two SINGLE occupants. An exhibit IL sub
mitted herewith largely made up Of the able re-
Ho advances many etrong reasons for the sepa-
rate confinement ct prisoners. 70 which direct
S6f00t1o0 Upon IA11 eu0Jfct Or ED GIG OF 0ua1 0c-
cupancy Of cells depends tho question Of whether
provisions shall he made for enlarginR both
prisons.
The law Of 1885 allowing the governor. at his
option, to open the Bismarck penitentiary as q
reform school was found imperative, owing to
the failure to confer npon the courts power to
sentence prisoners Of this class to confinement
at Bismarck.
TIE GOVERNMENT OF PRISONERS.
should be glad to have a committee OF the
legislature examine into the workings and man.
agement Of the two penitentiaries. think 1t
important. for the reason thst there is doubt in
my own mind as to the best policy to pursue in
the government of these institutions. Prisons
must necessarily be places to be dreaded and
Stunned. or confinement In them will cid very
li,tls in inspiriug a wholesome fear OF the law.
At the same time we should see that the treat
u1ent is humane and iii keeping with the policy
of reformation. How to draw the line between
toe gre at severity ON the one hand and too much
leniency on the other is an important question.
PARDoNs.
The Question of pardons is one that demands
the consideration of the legislature. No duty
that devoivcs upon the governor 10 filled with
more perplexity than that relating to prisoners
applying for mercy or justice at his hands.
Since my last communication to tho Legislature